Failure to Maintain Resident Dignity During Staff Interaction
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when a staff member failed to respect a resident's right to dignity during a lunch service. The resident, who had diagnoses including unspecified dementia, schizoaffective disorder bipolar type, and other persistent mood disorders, was noted to be severely impaired in thought process and judgment. During the incident, the resident became aggressive and threw a spoon at a certified nursing assistant (CNA). In response, the CNA threw the spoon back toward the resident and raised her voice at the resident. Another CNA present confirmed witnessing the staff member raise her voice and return the spoon, stating that these actions did not provide a dignified existence for the resident. The facility's policy on dignity, last revised in 2021, requires that residents be treated with dignity and respect at all times, with special sensitivity toward cognitively impaired residents. The policy specifically instructs staff to address the underlying causes of resident behavior and to avoid challenging or contradicting residents' beliefs or statements. The actions of the CNA in this incident were inconsistent with these policy requirements, resulting in a failure to honor the resident's rights and dignity.